But Yeltsin Only Purges After He Drinks

By Kathleen Adams, Harriet Barovick, Daniel Levy, Lina Lofaro, David Spitz, Flora Tartakovsky and Chris Taylor

Communists hoping to oust embattled Russian President Boris Yeltsin have leveled five damning impeachment charges against him. If true, the accusations could raise him to the status of communist forefather Joseph Stalin.

YELTSIN ALLEGEDLY

--waged "genocide" against Russians by pursuing economic policies that impoverished the country

--used unnecessary force against hard-line lawmakers (had parliament buildings shelled) in 1993

--allowed Russia's military to disintegrate

--ordered botched 1994-96 war in Chechnya

--instigated breakup of Soviet Union in 1991

STALIN ACTUALLY

--caused famine that killed millions by demanding grain quotas larger than nation's total crop

--used unnecessary force on hard-line communist Leon Trotsky (had him murdered with an ice pick) in 1940

--purged higher ranks of military, creating a shortage of military expertise

--ordered botched pact with Hitler in 1939

--negotiated breakup of Germany after WWII